My Journey to Getting a Philippine Ham Radio Call Sign

Recently, I embarked on the process of obtaining a Philippine amateur radio call sign, and I’d like to share my experience to help others who might be interested.

The process begins with a mandatory seminar, which can now conveniently be taken online as a webinar. I was fortunate to meet a very helpful ham radio operator from the Philippines, 4F1KIK, who is authorized by the Philippine Amateur Radio Association (PARA). He not only facilitated the seminar but also provided invaluable guidance on how to handle the paperwork.

An essential part of the preparation was acquiring the PARA Ham Radio Book, which cost 300 pesos plus shipping. Payment was easy via GCash, and the PARA office staff were very supportive when I called to inquire about the process. While the book is somewhat basic in quality – the graphics are small and blurry, as if from an old copy machine – it is mandatory for the webinar.

4F1KIK also runs a website where you can practice the questions for Elements 2, 3, and 4, which cover the material required to pass the seminar quiz. To complete his webinar, you must score 100% on all three topics. Don’t worry; you have unlimited attempts, and you’re not required to achieve this immediately after the webinar. I started studying the questions about three weeks beforehand and was able to reach 100% thanks to my prior knowledge as a licensed ham operator in the US and Germany. For those new to amateur radio, additional study time might be needed, especially for the local rules and regulations.

The next step after the webinar is to wait for the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to schedule your appointment for the Class C exam (Technician Class). If I had known how long this process would take, I might have opted for a guest license in the meantime, which would have allowed me to operate under my existing licenses with broader privileges.

While the process has its challenges, such as the time it takes and the minor quality of the materials, the support from PARA, 4F1KIK, and the community makes it manageable. If you’re considering getting your Philippine call sign, I highly recommend reaching out to PARA and 4F1KIK to get started.